SOCIAL MEDIA

Monday, September 3, 2018

How Starting A Morning Routine Changed My Life

As a tiny little blogger in the massive world of blogging, it's hard to think of things to write about that resonate with others.  I'll never stop sharing my family & my passions, but I know that is not what people want to see every time they come.  What does that do for them?
I get it.
Our worlds are so fast paced & crazy, & when you come here to read, I want to try to make sure I occasionally bring something that may be of importance to YOUR life.
Share something that has helped me along the way that may speak to you!
  We all have something to say that has value to it & we can all learn from one another.
  I think it's wonderful.  With that being said, it takes time to develop a thought into an entire post!

I have never been a morning person.
My God-given tendency would be that of a night owl, where you stay up late & get up early, as I've never been a napper nor one to sleep in.  One problem with that:
You never get any sleep.

Since becoming a mom, I've had to make changes.
I turned my "cant's" into "can's" & I'd like to think my family & myself are better for it!
How has getting up in the morning changed my life?
I'm a better mom, wife, & every other mental, physical, & emotional aspect of myself because of my early morning routine I've been tweaking since the beginning of the year.
They say it takes 21 days to  start. habit, 90 days to make a life change.
I think I'm about to hit the life change mark ;)
  Granted it has taken me almost six years to get there...😬

My Morning Routine 
4 am.  Alarm goes off, roll out of bed, put on my sneakers 
& workout before my body knows what's going on.
This really works, friends.

4:30 am.  Coffee is brewed & I sit down for Prayer & reading my bible.
I've been reading a chapter a day since January 1.
It has changed my life.

5:20 Pack mine & Cam's lunch.  And do any other odd + ends type of task that I don't want to do while the boys are awake.  Like blogging!  I've vowed to do my best & avoid any techno task around them now that I'm at work.  I even park my car to do my documentation for work before coming home.

6 am.  Shower + begin getting ready for the day.

6:50.  And I'm off!  Listening to my pediatric SLP podcasts to pump me up for another day teaching kids to talk.  The most ironic job a shy, quiet person could ever have.

Most end up looking like this...
With Conley Scout in tow:)
In my most recent experience, it is true what they say.  How you begin your day, is what sets the tone for the day.  Just like the whole making up your bed thing, except it's kind of like making up your body.  Does that make sense? 
.
My days since starting work have been absolutely crazy, hectic, & overwhelming.  I love my job but there is definitely some baggage & challenges attached that I'm going to have to grow through.
I truly believe that had I not spend that time in prayer, study, & focused on getting my nervous energy out in a positive way through exercise, I would have not been able to handle all of the outside pressures.  I'm thankful that with a little prayer & self discipline (most days), God has helped me to make this positive change in my life.  If didn't get up early, none of those things would happen.

I now am thankful for early mornings!  It is something I look forward to.

Not to say I don't want to push snooze or set the alarm for 6 every single day!
And I did just that one morning last week.

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I love reading your thoughts & comments & know that I always take away something that is shared & see how it applies to my own life!
Have a Happy Labor Day weekend❤️

 

Friday, August 31, 2018

friday favorites || long weekending love

Can I just say, that after three weeks of working M-F how much I appreciate this Friday + Monday OFF!?  That's pathetic!  I know.  I've definitely got my head in the clouds this Friday morning☺️

I'm probably most excited about actually getting to take Cam to school this morning & pick him up this afternoon!  And have a long day with Conley.  We have so much to do!  Let the errands begin!


Happiness sprinkled throughout this last week:

one. supper club
Cade cooked "his legendary breakfast" or so he claims (okay, he is a great breakfast chef, the best) for our sweet neighbor friends & it was a great evening of laughter & kid messes, & gravy.  Lot's of gravy.  Don't tell him I like it.
 
two. sister sister
Bebe & Joe Daddy came to take the boys shopping for a few school things this past weekend, & while a lot of that free time was spent doing a much needed house cleaning, my sister & I took a break + snuck away for a few short hours to do a little window shopping (something i m p o s s i b l e with a bunch of boys!).  Didn't buy a thing but a refreshing cup of coffee & sunflowers at Trader Joes, but oh the things I had all the heart eyes for.  Such a fun day, & it ended up being about 90 degrees, but that morning totally felt like fall!  Next time we go shopping, it will be my turn to buy school/winter/church clothes + a side of holiday pj's for our little stinkers! 
How can straight leg pants be so hard to find for a 5 year old boy??

Pottery Barn finds that I'll never be able to afford:
THIS DESK & chair.  NEED.



That galvanized pumpkin at the bottom has given me all the inspiration for my mantle.  I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a sale or a cheaper version... if you find one I'm all ears!
I need this pendant in my entry.  Isn't she pretty?

All the cute Halloween stuff! 😍

And a few favorites from Altered State.

This dress just screamed fall pictures to me...


three.  new work bag to the rescue!
Totally sold a watch I got from Christmas a couple years ago (thanks to my apple watch taking over my life) & in return, snagged this bag for work. That is kind of my way of buying things.  Sell on eBay & buy something I'll use.  🕺🏿I may or may not empty this tote on the weekends & use it for a purse, because I love it so much.  It's huge, stands up on it's on (which is contrary to the one I currently carry) & has the cutest Dalmatian/cheetah-ish print on the inside. 
I've been eyeing it for probably half a year thanks to @thesisterstudioig.
 I will affirm.  It is as dreamy as she claims it is. 
four.  favorite people in the world
My preschool staff at my old school (old as of spring).  I love & miss them so.
Talk about the most precious snail mail to receive a card from them delivered to my new school this week.  It will stay in my bag to pull out when I need it!  Love, love.

five.  long weekend, here we come!
SO to do, but at the top of my list, a few simple things:
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1. Actually read the entire Fall Magnolia magazine.  I tend to get to look at one picture & end up storing it away for a time when things slow down & "I can."  Yeah, right!
2.  A little shopping + haircuts for the boys!
We've got birthday presents to buy & my shaggy brothers need a good snip!
3.  PSL!  I just got an email they are b-aaaaack.
4.  Stay up late & binge watch Very Cavallari.  I shouldn't, but I can't stop.  Thanks, Bebe!  I'm an old Laguna beach junkie from "way back in 2002" & I think my main obsession with this show is Nashville.  I love that city.  I want to go this fall so bad!
5.  I'll probably spend the rest of my free time when the boys are asleep printing + laminating new therapy materials +listening to Laura Mize podcasts.
I am in pediatric SLP m-o-d-e.
 
A little update  To save my sanity, but preserve this sweet space, I'm going to shoot for two (vs. three) posts a week.  The usual Friday favorites & then a side of something else during the week that I have on my heart.  Something I feel that is less diary like & more worth sharing. 
I have a post I've been writing about my "journey" for lack of better words, to becoming a morning person.
Should be fun!
 
And way more importantly (than morning people), Cam is hard at work sneaking my phone away making more videos.  Caught him red handed.
Stay tuned.😜

Happy long weekending, sweet friends!


Monday, August 27, 2018

Soup Sunday Bucket List

There is just something about sitting down to a warm bowl of soup in the fall. 
Does it make sense that it's even b e t t e r when you walk in the door from church s t a r v i n g like Marvin, but alas, you catch a whiff of lunch ready to go in the crock pot. 
Football games blaring in the background.  Leaves dancing in the wind.
Ahhhhhh. 

the lady chicken noodle soup recipe

It's like this, you know how Cheryl said April 25th was the perfect day?
All you need is a light jacket.
Well I'd say September 25th is.
All you need is a soup in the crock pot.
It seems as though I unconsciously trickle it off of dinner rotation the minute spring has sprung
& just as withdrawals begin to hit -
It's that time again!
 
All the feels, guys.  All the feels.
 And yes, I just basically wrote a love letter to soup.
Some classic favorites around our home are taco, chicken noodle, potato, & I personally love my vegetable soup & my mom's broccoli & cheese.  But I couldn't force that down all THREE of my boys (yep, hubs included) throats with a ten foot pole.  "Broccoli???  Are you kidding me, mom?"
I can hear Cam now.
"Mom!  That is from the 1980's, gross!"
Just so you know, he thinks the 1980's might as well be the 1890's.
And that's his new zinger phrase.
Also see:
"Mom, did they have water when you were growing up?"
Totally had a gray hair at work last Friday.  Glowing so much so, I plucked it out.
THEY are why, friends.  My kids are why.
This Sunday marked the end of reintroducing our "tried & trues" & now it's time to add some new to the mix!  I thought I'd share to give you & your family a place to come for inspiration if you're into soup, too.

tomato + basil tortellini

ravioli soup

*creamy sausage and tortellini soup

cheeseburger soup

chicken fajita soup

creamy chicken + corn chowder

white chicken lasagna 

cheesy southwestern chicken tortilla

*dixie stampede vegetable soup

* = I've made & it's delicious.

I could scroll Pinterest for days looking at soup.
I have to know, what's a soup without a garnish?
Grilled cheese (love to cube & drop in & totally want to try these for the boys!), saltine crackers, sour cream, green onions, monterey jack cheese, + crushed up bacon + ritz.

I'd love to know some of your favorites!
Happy Soup making.